The crops have all been gathered in and now farmers and other agricultural professional are interested in gathering information for next year. New pests, resistant weeds, new research and new technologies challenge us to learn more and to adapt to a continuously changing environment. Extension has a variety of programs scheduled to help satisfy this need for new information.

One of the traditional meetings is missing from this winter's schedule. The Crop Protection Technology Conference still referred to as Spray School by some of us old-timers, normally scheduled for the first week of January has been moved to December 1 and 2 of 2009. There will still be one this year but early next winter. Part of the goal is to get information out a little earlier.

If you are looking for an educational opportunity to help fill the void, check out the East-Central Regional Crop Management Conference February 3 and 4 in Champaign at the I-Hotel and Conference Center. Certified Crop Advisers will be able to collect up to 13 CEUs with 4 of those in Soil and Water. Eighteen breakout sessions will allow participants to choose from a wide variety of Pest Management, Crop Management and Nutrient Management topics.

In the past the nearest Corn/Soybean Classic programs have been in Springfield and Bloomington, this year on January 7 there will be one in Champaign at the I-Hotel and Conference Center. Register online at www.ipm.uiuc.edu/conferences.